Supports for large diameter drums and drive means to rotate the drums

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for supporting and driving a body provided with an annular running band, the apparatus including a support carrying a cylindrical roller engaged by the band, means to self-align the roller axis relative to the band axis, a toothed ring to drive the roller, a pinion to drive the ring and drive means for the pinion.

[ June 25, 1974 United States Patent 1191 Pere [ SUPPORTS FOR LARGE DIAMETER 3,707,212 12/1972 Durand DRUMS AND DRIVE MEANS T0 ROTATE 3,736,307 6/ 1973 Renter-m- THE DRUMS 3,760,654

[75] Inventor:

9/1973 Fisher..............1..::::::::::::::

Gerard Pare Le Brawl France Primary Examiner-Leonard H. Gerin Creusot-Loire, Paris, France May 4, 1973 Attorney, Agent, or FirmCameron, Kerkam, Sutton, Stowe11 & Stowell Assignee:

[22] Filed:

ABSTRACT 21 Appl. No.: 357,175

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4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 3,397,591 8/1961 Delescluse............................ 74/410 PATENTEBJUNE 51974 SHEET 1 [IF 4 PATENTEI] JUN 2 5 974 SHEET 3 BF 4 The present invention relates to supports for cylindrical drums of large dimensions and drive means to rotate the drums, and is applicable to millsrof large dimensions and rotary kilns, particularly for'the cement industry.

Up to the present time, long cylindrical drums, such as rotary kilns, have been rotationally guided and driven by two distinct assemblies. Rotational guiding has been effected by support rollers mounted symmetrically on either side of the vertical plane passing through the axis of the drum, the latter running on the said rollers by means of bands. Rotational drive is effected by means of a toothed ring, rigidly connected to and coaxial with the drum and a pinion driven by a drive organ generally attached to the ground. The pinion is driven by the drive organ, of the direct current, variable voltage type, through a reduction gear, for the rotational speeds of the drum are low. When the reduction gear is on the ground, the said reduction gear is coupled to the pinion by a linkage capable of transmitting a high torque. It has never been possible to apply the solution of support and drive rollers to supporting and driving these drums. In fact, large dimension drums are required to undergo temporary or permanent distortion relative to the theoretical axis of the drum and the support rollers can be inclined to the same axis. For this reason in particular, it has never been possible to consider the frictional transmission of high torques imparted by support and drive rollers. Other limitations have also delayed the appearance of this solution. However, it is possible to create correct seating between the bands of the drum and the support rollers and thus to consider the possibility of transmitting high torques between the said rollers and the said bands. This possibility results from the appearance of solutions relating to selfaligning rollers, developed to avoid contact'pressure uneveness in the seating of the bands on the rollers and in the bushes of the two bearings of a roller. The Applicant has thus developed solutions of this type which are described in French Patents 1 557 066, l 578 176 and 7131952.

A primary object of the invention is to support and drive heavy rotary drums of large dimensions by means of self-aligning support bearings rotated by motors, the drive torque being transmitted to the kiln bands by friction. For this reason, the toothed ring drive apparatus is eliminated and the drive force can be distributed over the whole length of the drum. This solution is particularly economical. Another object of the invention is the provision of a self-aligning and both supporting and driving roller apparatus in which the motors follow the motion of the roller axis, the drive organ being independent of the ground. This solution enables any elastic linkage between the motor on the ground and the pivoted roller, necessary to absorb the motion of the, latter, to be avoided. It is made possible by the use of light-weight and compact motors, operating with high torque at low speed. The use of electric motors and reduction gears could not be considered, because of the weight of the drive assembly associated with the self-aligning roller. The drive assembly used, which is of the hydraulic type, permits elimination of reduction gears, direct current, variable voltage generators and mechanical and elastic linkages and makes the solution 2 in accordance with the invention particularly economical.

In accordance with the invention, the apparatus for supporting and driving a large rotary drum provided with running bands is essentially characterised by the fact that it includes at least one support and drive apparatus, consisting in combination: of a support roller with a cylindrical surface, in contact with a band, carried by an apparatus for self-alignment of the roller axis with the axis of the band; at least one toothed ring coaxial with the said roller; drive means; an apparatus for transmission of motion to the toothed ring with at least one drive organ, operated by the said drive means, engaged with the toothed ring.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to embodiments presented by way of example and illustrated in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a view of the apparatus in accordance with the invention including a first embodiment of the support and drive apparatus with drive means connected to the fixed apparatus;

FIG. 2 shows a section, along the line I--I of FIG. 3, of a second embodiment of the support and drive apparatus, with drive means connected to the movements of the roller;

FIG. 3 shows a section of this apparatus along the line Illl of FIG. 2, and

FIGS. 4 and 5 show details of the self-alignment mounting supporting the roller of the support and drive apparatus in accordance with FIGS. 2 and 3.

With reference to FIG. 1, the apparatus in accordance with the invention is designed to support and drive a rotary drum 1 provided at its periphery with bands 2 and 3. Bands 2 and 3 run on support and drive apparatus 4 mounted symmetrically on either side of the vertical plane passing through the axis of drum 1. Each of these apparatus consists of a roller 5 rotatable on a shaft 6 through a mechanism allowing small oscillations of the roller to ensure good contact of the outer surface of the cylinder of the said roller with the outer surface of the corresponding band. A toothed ring 7 is mounted rigidly on roller 5. Pinions 8, in driving engagement with the said ring, are carried by a chassis 9 guided rotationally and axially relative to the axis of roller 5. This guiding is provided by guide rollers, such as 10 running on a cylindrical track and rollers 11 and 12 running on annular tracks. Chassis 9 is rotationally immobilised about the axis of the rollers by damping arms such as 13, mounted on either side of shaft 6 and serving to annul the torque due to the drive by pinions 8. Pinions 8 are driven by motors 15, which are preferably hydraulic, connected to fixed apparatus. The mechanical linkage between each pinion 8 and the corresponding drive motor 15 is provided by a shaft 16 and a coupling joint 17 allowing relative motion of the said pinion and the said motor to be absorbed. Hydraulic motors 15 are suitable for providing a high torque at low speed and the transmission does not require a reduction gear. The system has good reversibility and, in case of a defective motor, roller 5 can idle. The drive force is taken up by the other rollers and a motor can be taken down quickly when it is convenient to stop the drum. If a fault occurs in the supply pump of the hydraulic motors of a support and drive apparatus 4, the said apparatus is made to idle and work can be carried out on the pump without stopping the drum. The speed of hydraulic motors 15 is exclusively linked to the flowrate, the supply being volumetric; the torque is solely a function of the pressure in the circuit for a motor of a given cylinder. As variation in the flow-rate of the pumps is controlled electrically, it is easy to control the speed of the kiln and the power distribution over the different rollers.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a modification of the support and drive apparatus shown in FIG. 1. Rotary roller 5 is slidably guided on a pivoted, non-rotary mechanism, of known type and consisting essentially of a fixed and non-rotary shaft 6 and a segment 16, pivoted relative to each other about a pivot with a degree of freedom along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the roller and the radial load, shaft 6 being supported by two shoes 17. The pivot between segment 16 and fixed shaft 6 is provided by contact of a semi-cylindrical surface of a transversal key 161, rigidly connected to segment 16, with a semi-cylindrical surface of a cup 61 rigidly connected to fixed shaft 6. Axial stops 20, which can be seen in FIG. 4, take the axial forces transmitted to segment 16. Rotational guiding by sliding of the roller on segment 16, is effected through a lining 162. The roller is also guided laterally by sliding of stop studs 18, rigidly attached to the lateral surfaces of segment 16, against stop washers 19, which are rigidly attached to the roller. The apparatus for driving roller 5 includes a toothed ring 7, co-axial with and rigidly attached to the said roller and rotated at low speed. This toothed ring is driven by pinions 8 worked by hydraulic motors 15. Pinions 8 and motors are carried by a chassis 9, connected axially to roller 5 by means of rollers 11 and 12, running on two tracks on either side of an annular rib 71 and guided rotationally about the said axis by rollers 10 running on a cylindrical track. Chassis 9 is rotationally immobilised about the axis of roller 5 by damping arms 13 and 14, connected to the chassis by pivots 131 and 141 respectively and attached elastically to the ground to allow oscillations of chassis 9 corresponding to those of roller 5.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the pivoted segment for guiding the roller. Channels 21 and 22 emerge at the outside of segment 16 and are used to distribute oil in the cylindrical friction zone between the roller and the segment lining. Oil injection is particularly employed on starting and during periods of low-speed rotation which occasion a large amount of friction. During normal running periods, lubrication is provided by the oil contained in chamber 23 formed between shaft 6 and the bore of the roller. Channel 22 is also used as a pressure take-off from the oil-film. Channels such as 24 running out of lateral studs 18 through orifices 241 are used for pressure take-off from the lateral oil-films to detect lateral strains.

A detector mounted in the circuit of channel 22 produces a signal proportional to the load supported by the roller. It is thus possible to render the limit of the supply pressure of hydraulic motors l5, and therefore the maximum drive torque supplied by a roller, proportional to the load supported by the roller. This enables slipping of a roller to be avoided when considerable unloading takes place.

It will be well understood that modifications and improvements in detail can be conceived and the use of equivalent means considered, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus each of the rollers can be driven by two toothed rings. In the embodiments described above, the chassis carrying the motors and/or the drive pinions is mounted laterally of the roller. lt can also consist of two side-plates carrying rollers running on guide tracks provided on the two lateral surfaces of the roller.

1 claim:

1. Apparatus for supporting and driving a large rotary drum provided with running bands characterised by the fact that it includes at least one support and drive apparatus consisting in combination of: a support roller with a cylindrical surface, in contact with a band, carried by an apparatus for self-alignment of the axis of the said roller with the axis of the band; at least one toothed ring co-axial with the said roller; drive means; an apparatus for transmission of motion to the toothed ring, with at least one drive organ, worked by the said drive means, in engagement with the toothed ring.

2. Apparatus for supporting and driving a large rotary drum provided with a running band, characterised by the fact that it includes at least one apparatus including in combination: a support roller with a cylindrical surface in contact with a band carried by an apparatus for self-alignment of the axis of the said roller with the axis of the band; at least one toothed ring co-axial with the said roller; at least one drive means; an apparatus for transmission of motion from the drive means to the toothed ring including a chassis supporting at least one drive organ engaged with the said ring, rotationally and axially guided relative to the axis of the roller by means of rollers running on tracks of the said support roller, attached to fixed apparatus by means of at least one damper arm.

3. Apparatus for supporting and driving a large rotary drum provided with a band characterised by the fact that it includes at least one apparatus consisting in combination: of a support roller with a cylindrical surface in contact with a band, guided by running or sliding on a pivot consisting of a segment situated on the side of the radial load and of a fixed shaft passing through the roller, the said shaft and the said segment being pivoted relative to each other about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the bearing and substantially perpendicular to the direction of the radial load; at least one toothed ring co-axial with the said roller; a chassis rotationally and axially guided relative to the axis of the roller and substantially rotationally immobilised relative to this axis by at least one damper arm; at least one hydraulic motor carried by the said chassis driving a pinion engaged with the said toothed ring.

4. Apparatus for supporting and driving a large rotary drum provided with a band in accordance with claim 3, characterised by the fact that the apparatus includes a pressure take-off from the oil-film formed in the pivoted segment, operating a pressure gauge which produces a signal proportional to the load supported by the roller; a circuit controlled by the pressure gauge, controlling the upper limit of the supply pressure of the hydraulic motors proportionally to the pressure in the filmofoil.

1 ELRfIIF CAfIE 0F no.1amscmopi Patent No- 318 r Y ia June 25 1974 G 1.1 is: certified. that error appears in the abovmidntified patent and that said Lettqe rs Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Forein Applicatidn Priority Data [30] May 25, 1972 France 72 18609 Sigrwd aild sealed this 5th 'day of November 197- a (SEAL). At t@sta McCOY M.'GIBSON-JR. c. MARSHALLYDANN Attesting Officer Comissioner of Patents USCOL1M-OC 603154 2 1 v u l. LI-E-NMENI mama-3 CP'FICS' x959 o-qswu: 

1. Apparatus for supporting and driving a large rotary drum provided with running bands characterised by the fact that it includes at least one support and drive apparatus consisting in combination of: a support roller with a cylindrical surface, in contact with a band, carried by an apparatus for self-alignment of the axis of the said roller with the axis of the band; at least one toothed ring co-axial with the said roller; drive means; an apparatus for transmission of motion to the toothed ring, with at least one drive organ, worked by the said drive means, in engagement with the toothed ring.
 2. Apparatus for supporting and driving a large rotary drum provided with a running band, characterised by the fact that it includes at least one apparatus including in combination: a support roller with a cylindrical surface in contact with a band carried by an apparatus for self-alignment of the axis of the said roller with the axis of the band; at least one toothed ring co-axial with the said roller; at least one drive means; an apparatus for transmission of motion from the drive means to the toothed ring including a chassis supporting at least one drive organ engaged with the said ring, rotationally and axially guided relative to the axis of the roller by means of rollers running on tracks of the said support roller, attached to fixed apparatus by means of at least one damper arm.
 3. Apparatus for supporting and driving a large rotary drum provided with a band characterised by the fact that it includes at least one apparatus consisting in combination: of a support roller with a cylindrical surface in contact with a band, guided by running or sliding on a pivot consisting of a segment situated on the side of the radial load and of a fixed shaft passing through the roller, the said shaft and the said segment being pivoted relative to each other about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the bearing and substantially perpendicular to the direction of the radial load; at least one toothed ring co-axial with the said roller; a chassis rotationally and axially guided relative to the axis of the roller and substantially rotationally immobilised relative to this axis by at least one damper arm; at least one hydraulic motor carried by the said chassis driving a pinion engaged with the said toothed ring.
 4. Apparatus for supporting and driving a large rotary drum provided with a band in accordance with claim 3, characterised by the fact that the apparatus includes a pressure take-off from the oil-film formed in the pivoted segment, operating a pressure gauge which produces a signal proportional to the load supported by the roller; a circuit controlled by the pressure gauge, controlling the upper limit of the supply pressure of the hydraulic motors proportionally to the pressure in the film of oil. 